NHS screening results

[Babyn1]

Hey ladies.

Had my screening results back and just wanted A bit of reassurance really. First of all, it doesn’t matter to me if baby does have Down syndrome - but naturally it is anxiety inducing when you think about it and seem to be getting a bit worked up.

my NT was 1.7/2mm and Down syndrome result was 1 in 640. Edward’s and pataus was 1 in 5000.

i know these are considered low, and are low, but most people I have seen had results in the thousands so makes me think that this is more something to worry about?

Just wondering if anyone had a similar result or what your result was?

does anyone also know what is taken into consideration? I’m 27 and do have a higher BMI (34) so will that be taken into account with the results?

like I said, baby is so loved regardless but it’s such an anxiety inducing time! I had considered getting the NIPT but I think this would make my anxiety worse.

Any words of wisdom / reassurance would be great xxx

Pregnancy is such an anxious time. But good thing is your past the 12 weeks stage and have a low risk for disability.
NIPT test will give you almost 100% certainty for Downs so would that not help your anxiety on this issue?

I don't know if bmi is taken into consideration but I do know that 1 in 5000 is now the lowest chance they give

Hi @Babyn1
I would highly recommend calling the screening department (their contact details will be on your letter) to ask for some more information. I did just that a few weeks ago when my results came back and were much higher than I was expecting and they were so lovely and carefully explained all my results to me.

For reference, my risk is 1:284 and I was 29 at the time of screening. The screening takes into account NT measurement and two levels from your bloods- HCG and PAPP-A. A higher NT, higher HCG and lower PAPP-A result is a pattern seen in pregnancies with T21. All 3 of my results were in the 'normal' range- none triggered any extra testing or risk- but because my HCG and NT were slightly higher than average and my PAPP-A lower, it meant that overall my risk is higher because it follows the T21 pattern.

I hope that makes sense! It may be the same case for you or it may not- if you ring the department and ask for someone to explain your results, you'll get a lot more clarity.

First baby DS risk was 1:130 at 24yr

Second baby was a much lower risk but still ‘high’ compared to other 27yr olds; something like 1:250

Neither have DS. I do have a history of hyperemesis in my pregnancies though which is often seen in conjunction with high HCG levels.
HCG is one of the many hormones which is tested for during the screening.

I also had low Papp-a both pregnancies which is again tested for as part of the screening. The low Papp-a may have contributed to me having slight smaller babies than would be expected but they weren’t dangerously low birth weights by any means.

Interestingly, my mum also (in hindsight, it wasn’t tested for back then) had symptoms of low Papp-a in her pregnancy with me.

With our 1:130 baby, we decided against any further testing which could jeopardise the pregnancy but keep a keen eye on the 20 week scan and subsequent growth scans for health problems (or other markers) associated with DS. (Heart defects being the major worry with DS)

I am 28 with this pregnancy, had DS 1 in 1050 or something similar and Edwards/Pataus as 1 in 5000. Last pregnancy at 26 I was 1 in 10000 or higher in both, so the results this time although low risk were a shock. I panicked googled for a few days. The NT on this one was 2.4 mm and with my first was 2.3 mm, again not high but on the higher side of normal from what I had seen.
After the initial worry, it went away with a little research of similar situations. The risk was not high enough for me to do anything about. I am 30 weeks pregnant with this one now and had no other markers, so not worried at all.